What causes the EPS light to come on in a car?
2 Answers
The reasons why the EPS light comes on in a car are: 1. Damage to the steering system sensor; 2. Damage to the steering system motor; 3. Lack of power steering fluid or leakage. EPS system failure can affect normal driving, so the source of the fault should be identified and addressed as soon as possible. EPS stands for Electric Power Steering system, which refers to a power steering system that relies on an electric motor to provide auxiliary torque. The electric power steering system mainly consists of a torque sensor, speed sensor, electric motor, reduction mechanism, electronic control unit, etc. This system eliminates the need for an engine pulley and oil pump, freeing up space for the installation of other components.
I remember when I was driving my old car once, the EPS light came on, which is the warning light for the Electronic Power Steering system. The steering wheel immediately became very heavy, making it as strenuous as driving an old go-kart. There could be several reasons: the most common is a faulty steering angle sensor, where inaccurate detection of the steering wheel's rotation angle causes the system to misjudge; or unstable battery voltage, where the alternator doesn't provide enough power to support the system's operation; another possibility is loose or corroded wiring connectors, disrupting signal transmission. Once after heavy rain, the light came on, and I found that water had entered the engine compartment wiring harness connector—it was fine after drying, but severe cases may require part replacement. When power steering fails, it's difficult to turn on congested roads and prone to scratches. It's recommended to pull over immediately, check the battery voltage and fuses; if it's simple, just reset it, but for complex issues, you need to go to a professional repair shop to read the fault codes with a computer. Don't neglect cleaning the engine compartment during regular car washes to reduce corrosion issues.
